Automatic parachute opener



' Oct.10,1939. w. QMC UILLEN- 2,175,634

AUTOMATIC PARACHUTE OPENER Filed Nov; 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IIIIIIIIA'IIIII,IIIIII III'I'A'II Oct. 10, 1939. w, c, McQU|LLENAUTOMATIC PARACHUTE OPENER Filed Nov. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZJZZZSVLway/ I i N Patentedct.10,l939

mm srA'rss' I aurom'rrc ranaonu'ra omen Walter Charles MeQuillen, 1-,....1 Application November 15, ms. Serial No. 240,551

This invention reiatu to automatic parachute openers and has for anobject to provide aimplifled apparatus which may be applied to theharness of any conventional parachute and may be 5 adjusted toautomatically open at a specified time interval after theperson wearingthe harness clears the'aircraft regardless ofthe position assumed by thewearer.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this type which may beapplied to a receptacle'ior' dropping food or other articles and whichmay be adjusted to release the parachute at a predetermined distanceabove the ground to permit the receptacle being landed more accuratelyat its destination.

A further object is to rovide a device of this character which'may beormed of a few strong simple and durable parts; which will beinexpensive to -manutacture, vand 'which will noteasily get out oforder. ,7

With the above and other objects in view the inventionconsists oi.certain novel details of construction and combinations 01' partshereinafter fully described and 'claimed, it being understood thatvarious modifications may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofth advantages of the invention.

- In the accompanying drawings forming part oi. this specification,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the casing of aninstrument constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing theoperating parts in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

. through the casing of the instrument and showing the opposite side 01the working parts from Figure 6 is a front elevation of a harnessinoperative position and equipped with an automatic parachute openerconstructed in accordance with the invention.

50 Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modiflediorm'of theinvention applied to a storage receptacle.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line't-l of Figure 7showing the covers of the ll parachute receptacle closed.

(or. 244-159) c Figure 9 is .a cross sectional view similar to Figure 8but showing the covers open.

Figure 10 is a detail view in elevation showing the hinge stringot oneoi the parachute covers.

Figurell is a detail'iront elevation of the shaft I and pointer for.indicating lapse of time before opening or the parachute. I

Figure 12 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the pilotchute in closed position.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken on .a the line it-il oi.Figure 12. 1 I

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view 0! the pilot chute open.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts in the various views, ll designates a casing inwhich is mounted a clockwork mechanism comprising side plates II, a mainshalt l2 Journaled in the side plates and upon which a main spring I3 iscoiled for actuating the shaft. As is cusl0 'tomary the shaft isequipped with a gear ll which actuates a gearv train it terminating inan escapement it, these parts being conventional.

An electro-magnet I1 is mounted between the side plates at the top ofthe casing and the re- 25 silient armature I I of the magnet is rigidlysecured at one end to one of the side plates as shown at is in, Figure3. The armature -is 'equipped with a pin 20 which extends at a rightangle to the armature and is equipped at the free end with a latch bar2i, best shown in Figure 2 as being secured at one end to the other sideplate and having an intumed lug 22 which engages between the teeth ofthe escapement wheel 23. When the magnet is energized the armature is 86attracted and moves the'latch bar ii to dislodge the lug from betweenthe teeth and permit the escapement to operate in the usual manner underthe influence of the main spring I 3.

The electrc-magnet is energized to release the 40 escapement and startthe clockwork mechanism operating just as the wearer of the parachuteharness 2!, shown in Figure 6, clears the aircraft in any position,either upright or inclined. .For this purpose a battery 25 is secured tothe belt 5 20 of the harness. One side of the battery is connected by aconductor wire 21 to one end oi the electro-magnet coil. 'A mercuryswitch 28,

and a vane operated switch 29, are connected in parallel with the otherend of the coil through to. the medium of a conductor wire .30 leadingfrom the other side of the battery and respective wires "-32 for themercury switch and wires "-34 for the vane operated switch, as bestshown diagrammatically in Figure ,5. A vane 35 is hinged asatoneendto'anendwallofthecasingasshown at it inl'lgure 3 and is providedat the upper end with a finger 81 which depresses the spring switchcontact I! of the vane operated switch into contact with the stationarycontact of this switch when the wind gets under the vane should theperson fall in upright position, to close the circuittotheelectro-magnet. Should the person fall in any other position themercury switch will operate to closethe circuit.

.The time interval through which the clockwork mechanism is allowed tooperate before release of the parachute is controlled through the mediumof acam SI which is fixed to the inner end of the main shaft II. Thiscam revolves as a unit with the shaft and ratchet gear ll thereof and isdisposed outside of the ratchet gear in position to impinge against thehead ll of a pin 42 which is slidably mounted in guides 43 on'one of theside plates and is terminally equipped with a tooth 44. The tooth 4|engages in a notch 45 formed in a ilring pin ll which is disposed toslide longitudinally through the casing in guides 41. When the cam IIimpinges against the head ll of the pin 42 or trigger as it may becalled, the trigger is withdrawn from the notch 45 and the firing pin isreleased to be moved by its control spring 48 to explode a cartridge 4!carried in a barrel 50 which projects fromone end of the casing. Theexplosion of the cartridge drives a plunger 5i outwardly in the barrel,and as best shown in Figure 6 the end of the plunger is connected to theconventional ring 52 on the rip cord 53 of the parachute which in thepresent embodiment of.

the invention is-not illustrated'as it is of the type worn either as aseat or as a back rest. Pulling of the rip cord permits the conventionalparachute spring to open the parachute flap and release the pilot chutewhich pulls out the parachute as will be understood.

The main shaft extends exterlorly beyond the casing and is equipped witha winding key 54 as onds or other time intervals. By turningthe keyuntil the pointer indicates any desired time interval the main springwill be wound to a corresponding degree so that it will unwind undercontrol of the escapement It during the predetermined time intervalbefore the cam 39 strikes the head ll of the trigger 42 to release thefiring pin.

In Figure '1 there is shown a modified form of the invention for use inconnection with parachute delivery of parcels, food, and othermaterial.' In this form of the invention a streamlined casing 51 isdivided into forward and rear compartments through the medium oftransverse partitions II and 59 and is divided into upper and lowercentral compartments through the medium of a longitudinal partition 60.The forward compartment receives the clock operated mechanism for timingthe release of the parachute. In the upper central compartment is storedthe packed parachute 6i and the top of this compartmentis closed byhinged covers 62, best shown in Figure 9, which are normally closed asshown in Figure 8 and are opened after a predetermined lapse oftimesubsequent to release of the casing from the bracket 63 whichsuspends the casin from the aircraft (not shown).

The covers are provided with respective hooks I which are disposed inalignment when the covers are closed to hook over a bracket arm I whichis hinged at one end to the bottom of the bracket 83 as shown at 86. Thebracket'arm Si is normally held stationary through the medium of a latchbar I which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the bracket I, as shownat I. The upper end of the latch bar is equipped with a cable 60' whichterminates within convenient reach of the person responsible for therelease of the parachute. The lower end of the latch bar is equippedwith an opening 10 which receives the end of the hinged bracket arm iiin advance oi the registering hooks 04 as best shown in Figure 7. Whenthe operator pulls the cable H the lower'end of the latch bar 61 will berocked outwardly against the tension of its controlling spring ll whichis connected at one end to the latch bar and at the other end to thebracket 62 and which normally holds the latch bar in latched position.When the latch bar 61 is swung outwardly it disengages from the hingedbracket arm 65 allowing the latter to gravitate and release the casing51.

Immediately upon the casing being released the time controlled mechanismoperates to govern the time period through which the casing will fallbefore the doors are opened to release the parachute. For this purpose asingle switch is employed comprising a plunger 12 which is slidablymounted in a bracket 13 disposed on the top of the casing over the frontcompartment. The plunger projects within the compartment and terminatesin a switch contact fll which bridges stationary switch contacts 15 toclose the circuit from the battery 18 to the electro-magnet 11 of thetime controlled releasing mechanism.

The plunger is spring pressed outwardly through the medium of a helicalspring 1! which is sleeved upon the plunger and normally bears against astop 19 carried by the bracket 63. This vibration when the apparatus isbeing transported and coacts with a similar stop 83 which depends fromthe bracket 63 and engages the rear end of the casing, for the samepurpose.

As previously described when the electro-magnet is energized it releasesthe previously described escapement II to start the clockwork mechanismand when the previously described cam lodges against the trigger 82 thelatter is withdrawn from the plunger 83 which is slidably mounted in thefront compartment of the casing. Upon withdrawal of the trigger theplunger is moved forwardly through the medium of a helical spring 84which is sleeved on the p'unger between stop collars 85, movement of theplunger pulling the cable 86 which is attached to the plunger at one endand which carries a. latch pin 81 at the opposite end. Thelatch pin isnormally engaged in eyes 88 formed at the lower ends of the hooks 64 tohold the hooks stationary until withdrawal of the latch pin whereuponhelical springs l9, best shown in Figure 10 as sleeved upon the hingepintles 90 of the doors 6!, exert tension upon the doors to spread thedoors to wide open position. At this moment a pilot chute Si, havingspring wire ribs, springs out and opens, simultaneously assistingopening movement of the doors 62, and pulls after it the parachute -6 iThe time interval through which the clockwork mechanism will continue torun is governed by winding of the clockwork mechanism main shaft,previously described and shown in Figure 11 until the pointer 55registers with the time stop holds the front end of the casing againstdesignating character on the dial 55, as also previously described.

Since the operation of the parts has been described as the descriptionof the parts progressed it is thought that the invention will be fullyunderstood without further explanation.

What. is claimed is: Y

1. In an automatic parachute opener, a support, a time responsiveescapement on the support, means connected to the escapement for holdingthe escapement stationary, an electromagnet'controlling said means torelease the escapement for actuation when the parachute is initiallydropped from aircraft, a parachute releasing cord, time responsive meansconnected to the cord and controlled by actuation of the escapement torelease the parachute after a predetermined time perlod has elapsedsubsequent to dropping of the parachute, a source of electricity, and amercury switch connected in circuit with said source of electricity andwith said electro-magnet adapted to energize the electromagnet when theparachute is initially dropped from aircraft.

2. Inan automatic parachute. opener, a support, a time responsiveescapement on the support, means connected to the escapement for holdingthe escapement stationary, an electromagnet controlling said means torelease the escapement for actuation when the parachute is initiallydropped from aircraft, a parachute releasing cord, time responsive meansconnected to the cord and controlled by actuation of the escapement torelease the parachute after a predetermined time period has elapsedsubsequent to dropping of the parachute, a source of electricity, a.vane operated switch, a mercury switch, and conductors connecting bothswitches in parallel with the source of electricity, and with theelectro-magnet,saidswitches being adapted to energize the electrmmagnetwhen the parachute is initially dropped from the aircraft regardless ofthe position of the wearer in the air.

3. In an automatic parachute opener, a support, a time responsiveescapement on the support, a latch member slidably mounted on thesupport and engaging the escapement to hold the escapement stationary,an electro-magnet, an armature for the magnet connected to said latchpin and adapted to move the latch pin to release the escapement foractuation when the electromagnet is energized, time responsive cammeans, a trigger connected to said means, a parachute releasing cord, aplunger connected to said cord for pulling the cord, a barrel connectedto said the cartridge, said trigger normally engaging said firing pinand holding the pin in cocked position against the tension of itscontrolling spring, said cam means releasing the trigger to permit thefiring pinto move tofiring position after a predetermined time periodhas elapsed subsequent to dropping of the parachute, a source ofelectricity, and switch means connected in circuit with said source ofelectricity and with said electro-magnet adapted to energize theelectro-magnet when the parachute is initially dropped from theaircraft. 4. The combination of a casing, partitions in the casingdividing the casing into compartments, a packed parachute in onecompartment, spring pressed hinged doors closing the last namedcompartment, means for 'detachably securing said casing to an aircraft,means for manually 'releasing said securing means to permit the casingto drop, a clockwork mechanism in one of said compartments including anescapement, a main spring, and a winding shaft for the spring, meansconnected to the escapement for normally holding the escapementstationary, means for releasing the escapement holding means when theeasing is initially dropped from aircraft, means for holding said doorsclosed against the tension of the controlling springs of the doors, doorreleasing means connected to the last named means and time responsivemeans connected to said winding shaft and to said door releasing meanscontrolled by actuation of the escapement to operate the door releasingmeans after a predetermined 'time"

